Sunday, May 8, 2011

Día de las Madres

Dominic posing with Mother Julian.


Cleanser heart on kitchen counter.

Happy Mother's Day!


There was much complaining this morning when I told the boys that I wanted to go on a hike for Mother's Day.


No!!! They screamed. "Let's go to Legoland!!"


It went on for so long that I decided I couldn't deal and went by myself.


Mike took the boys to Legoland, teaching them a valuable lesson about screaming.


It truly is an effective form of communication.


I walked 9 miles from Reading to Shiplake and back along the Thames Path.


The Thames Path follows England's best known river for 184 miles (294km) as it meanders from its source in the Cotswolds through several rural counties and on through the bustle of the City of London. (http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/thamespath/index.asp)

Oh Shiplake College you sure are a good school!
Oh Shiplake College you sure are a peach boom boom wacky wacky!

It was glorious.

Houseboat.







Houseboat and stuff.


Swimmers!






Sonning Lock




Roots.

Happy Mother's Day! I am forever grateful to life for the children I have been given to love and raise. Our lives would be so neat and orderly and boring without our babies to tear apart our couches (Michael and Dominic), to march in parades dressed in chicken costumes (William), to pretend to play violin at school recitals (Anna), to fill our house with the wailing of electric guitars, to have drunk friends spend the night, to snort when she laughs, to paint and paint and paint, and on and on and on.

May I be worthy of such goodness.

God bless all of my mama loves today! You inspire me with your love and creativity, your sense of humor, justice, kindness, courage, patience, and tender loving care. Shannon, Sarah, Barb, Susana, Cecy, Elena, Tina, Silvia, Maricruz, Silvia Maria, Elisa, Rainy, Karlin, Kara, Denise, Lisa, Adriana, Carmen, Teresa, Amy, Ann-Eve, Robin, Felicia, Jenny, Kariman, Etsuko, Alison, Katie, Andrea, Melina and on and on.

Thank you to my mother who taught me to be bold even when I am scared. Thank you to Babette for bringing Mike Spacone to life. Thank you to Silvia for teaching me strength. Thank you Donna for connecting our love fest. Thank you to Mrs. Nenni, Mrs. Sorrell, Mrs. Eggar, Mrs. Papanikolas, Mrs. Aros and Mrs. Goddard for helping to mother me when I needed it.

Amen Alleluia

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Gower Peninsula, Wales

April 2011

Wild ponies

TV in the B and B!
Mike and I wondered if one of the Bs could be babysitting...
Our first day we hiked Rhossili Bay.

Worm Head, Rhossili Bay

Walking toward old rectory

Another view of Worm Head

View from old rectory

Sticks!

Cure for complainers, carry Daddy's backpack.



Worked like a charm




Drumming au naturel


Intrigued with grass mat

The new definition of "mountain"



Lots of collapsing on the ground,
but very little complaining.





Aruba 'ta windy!

Worm Head, name derived from 'orm', dragon or serpent in Old English.


Flowers growing from walls of old stone house.

Ended day with romp on beach at Rhossili Bay.






The next day we hiked Oxwich Bay, from St. Iltud's to Oxwich Castle.
St. Iltud's Church


Graveyard is said to be haunted by a beast, half man - half horse.






Forest trail along the coast





A mini canyon that Dominic was unsure of...

He made it through.

A side trail led us down to shore,
blue rope helped us to skid down the slippery stone.


Mongo boulder cubes.



Lunch!

Michael searching for signs of ghost beast.

Cliff-side cattle.


My little man.




The trail passes through a sheep paddock.
Fuzzy place where sheep have passed.






Oxwich Castle


Oxwich Castle


Bilingual

We loved Wales! The people were very friendly, the scenery is stunning, there are wild ponies (!!) and it is just hours from our house. We want to come back and see more. Mike and I were so proud of Michael and Dominic! They were troopers, hiking 4 miles one day, and 4 1/2 the next. Each hike took about 3 hours. The story of the ghost beast that haunts St. Iltud's graveyard was the best thing that happened to our day 2 hike. They were completely entertained and spent hours looking for signs and clues. It was confirmed that the beast drinks Fosters and poops quite a lot...